23 February 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Pride

2022 School Explicit Improvement Agenda (EIA):
Every Student is a Reader and a Writer – Aim for the ‘A’
Inclusivity: Everyone Counts!
Wellbeing and Engagement for All

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Community Members,

Welcome back to Week 3 of our 8-week teaching and learning Term 1. Students are progressing well through their units of work, with some wonderful writing samples being presented by teachers at their weekly year level meetings. Our Prep and Year 1 classes are engaged with the synthetic phonics teaching approach and BYOx classrooms are continuing to develop their ICT capabilities.

Students are also well and truly back into the swing of school extra-curricular activities with inter-school swimming team trials being held last week, Junior and Senior Choirs beginning rehearsals, Sporting Schools coaches developing the skills of our junior students and a range of exciting lunch-time STEM Clubs in operation. Thank you to our specialist teachers, Ms Deuble, Mr Madeley, Mrs Coleman and Mr Menzies for their commitment to providing our students with these additional opportunities.

Townsville Bulletin Prep Photos

Permission notes were sent home on Monday to all Prep families regarding the upcoming annual Prep Photos taken by the Townsville Bulletin. Please be advised the date has now changed from THIS THURSDAY, 24/02 to 10am next Thursday, 3 March.

It is essential permission notes are returned as soon as possible, as students are unable to be included in the photo (and have their full name published) without consent.

Student Council

This Friday will be the first meeting of our 2022 Student Council. Student Council comprises all the previously appointed Year 6 leaders and newly voted Year 4 and 5 classroom representatives. Student Council fundraising endeavours will continue to support Ronald McDonald House this year. I am looking forward to working with the ideas and enthusiasm of our new generation of leaders under the guidance of Mrs Carter.

Staffing Update

Mrs Claire Franklin, Head of Special Education Services, is currently on leave until 21 March. Mrs Jodie Robinson, one of our Inclusion teachers, will take on the A/Head of Special Education Services role in Mrs Franklin’s absence.

Assistant Regional Director Visit

On Tuesday, 22 February, our NQR Assistant Regional Director, Mrs Lesley Pecchiar, conducted one of her twice per term supervisory visits to our school. Mrs Pecchiar works with each of her schools to ensure progress towards AIP and I4S goals is being continually monitored. Mrs Pecchiar visited a number of classrooms and was impressed with the assessment literacy of our students in being able to answer the regionally promoted best practice 5 questions for students (from the work of Lyn Sharratt).

5 Questions for Students (5Q4S)

What are you learning? (Provides evidence that student understands the lesson Learning Intention)
How are you going? (Provides evidence that the student is aware of the Success Criteria on the GTMJ)
How do you know? (Provides evidence that the student has received and is using teacher Descriptive Feedback)
How can you improve? (Provides evidence that the student knows their Learning Goals)
Where can you go for help? (Provides evidence that the student is utilising the Learning Wall)

As positive home-school partnerships contribute to successful learning outcomes for students, a set of 5 Questions for Parents has also been developed. You may like to reflect upon these:

5Q4 Parents

What is my child learning?
How is my child progressing/achieving?
How do I know?
How can I assist my child improve?
Where/Who can my child seek help from?

Payment for Handwriting Texts (P-4)

P-4 families have now been invoiced for this year’s Handwriting Textbook. This invoicing was advised to families at the top of the 2022 Booklist distributed last year. The school pre-purchases these textbooks in advance to remove the requirement for each individual family to source or order this text and to ensure this is available to students from Day #1. Thank you in advance for your attention to this invoice.

2022 Voluntary Contributions - $40 per student and $80 per family

The costs of providing instruction, administration and facilities for the education of students enrolled at a school are met by the State Government. Voluntary financial contributions are used by the school to provide an enhanced educational service and to supplement resources available for student learning, recreation and comfort.

The Willows State School has maintained a consistent level of voluntary financial contributions for the past few years, approved by the P&C. Please see the Parent Information Sheet regarding Voluntary Financial Contributions below. If you wish to make a voluntary financial contribution to the school please pay at the school office.

COVID-19 Positive Cases - Notification to School Community

Over the past week we have continued to be notified of positive test results for COVID-19 in our school community.

May I remind you to continue to:

• Monitor yourself and your family for COVID-19 symptoms that can include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, headache, fatigue, diarrhoea, vomiting or nausea, loss of smell and/or taste;
• Stay home if displaying any symptoms, or feeling unwell. You should attend your local Queensland Health testing clinics where students are prioritised to get a free rapid antigen test (RAT);
• Continue to follow all Queensland Health advice.

If students become symptomatic while at school, you will be contacted to collect them. You will also be provided with a free rapid antigen test (RAT) to administer at home.

If your child tests positive to COVID-19, please follow Queensland Health guidelines for reporting the test result, isolation and quarantine.

More COVID-19 related information is available from www.health.qld.gov.au

Home-School Communication

Our school newsletter, Willows Pride, is issued weekly each Wednesday of the school term. The newsletter is emailed, uploaded to the official school Facebook page and uploaded to the school website:

It is vitally important that the newsletter is engaged with as it is our primary source of communicating key school messages.

The Willows SS 25 Year Anniversary Celebration - 2022

This year The Willows State School will be celebrating it’s 25 Year Anniversary. Any support that can be offered for the 25 Year Anniversary Planning Committee would be much appreciated. Please contact the school or P&C to find out how you can be involved. The next 25 Year Anniversary Planning Committee Meeting will be held at 5pm on Tuesday, 8 March. Our celebrations will span a number of events across 11-13 August. Many hands make light work.

FINAL REMINDER: Transition statements for 2022 Prep students – school transition email address

All parents of 2022 Prep students are requested to share their child’s Kindergarten Transition Statement with the school should they not already have done so through organising permission with their kindergarten to share. Transition statements provide very useful information about children’s progress and support needs and assist teachers in planning to cater to their students. Kindergarten Transition Statements can be emailed to: transitions@thewillowsss.eq.edu.au

Student Absences – Every Day Counts!

School attendance is compulsory under the Education Act. If children are going to be absent from school for any reason parents are requested to inform the school by phoning 4799 1333, emailing or sending a message. If your child is absent from school on any given day and we are unaware of the reason for the absence an SMS will be generated asking you to contact the school regarding your child’s absence. Due to the current impact of COVID-19 Queensland Health requirements regarding quarantine and isolation, attendance whole school reward schemes will not be operating in Term 1 and will be reviewed for Term 2.

Have a wonderful week – our next newsletter will be issued on Wednesday, 2 March.

Warm regards,

Michelle Donn
A/Principal

General News

Life Education

The Willows State School has chosen to partner with Life Education, a specialist health education provider. The Life Education Mobile Learning Centre will be visiting our school for Year 1, Year 3 and Year 6 from the 24th of February to the 2nd of March. They will be engaging with all of our students over the year in some exciting and memorable learning experiences, which are aligned with the Australian Health and Physical Education Curriculum.

Life Education is a health promotion charity and the largest non-government provider of health and drug education to children. They work in partnership with schools to enhance and reinforce children’s learning about nutrition, the benefits of physical activity, staying safe online, the health impacts of smoking and alcohol and strategies to cope with peer and social pressures.

Life Education is about prevention through education – providing your child with important knowledge, skills, confidence and self-esteem to help them live a healthy, safe life. They use up-to-date technology and teaching methods, and engage the students through interactive games and activities. Healthy Harold the giraffe, their much- loved mascot, helps to deliver their message to primary school children.

What your child will learn…..

Year 1 –

Year 3 –

Year 6 –

Students attending the program pay $7.00. Permission letters were sent home on the 7th of February. These should have been returned to the office. If you have not returned yours, please return them as soon as possible. Payment of $7.00 has been invoiced to you. If you have not already paid, please do so as soon as possible.

Upcoming Events

Willows Warriors News

Welcome to our Willows Warriors program.

We will be commencing our Warriors program on 9th March 2022 pending the Premier’s back to school update.

Day – Wednesdays 9:00 – 11:15 or 12:30 – 2:45

Bring along – a healthy snack, wide brim hat and water bottle.

Target audience – Children who will be eligible to attend Prep in 2023 (born 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018).

At Warriors we participate in reading, counting, music, art, outdoor activities, and much more.

Defence News

HELLO and WELCOME TO ALL DEFENCE FAMILIES

Welcome to week 3 I hope you are keeping healthy. REMEMBER if you have posted in this year and would like your children to benefit from some extra tutoring you can do so NOW. Just contact the Defence Member and Family Helpline 1800 624 608 or email education.supportprograms@defence.gov.au for the form. There are four parts to complete with one part for the classroom teacher to sign, then return completed form to the email mentioned above. You also have to source a tutor for your student. I have copies of the EA form at school that I can have your teacher sign and return home with student upon request. Below are the details to access the form. If you have any questions, please give me a call. This is a valuable resource to assist students with their transition into a new school.

Welcome packs have now been distributed to all the amazing, smiling, friendly new students. It has been a pleasure to meet and chat with them about their move and answer any of the questions they may have about their new school. Many of the students and their new friends have called into Kids Club/Defence Room at break times to say Hi, make a craft item and play a board game together. Please contact me if you have any questions about your student’s transition into their new school. It would also be most appreciated if you can contact me if/when you know a loved one will be away for an extended time. This is important so I may support them with their understanding and emotions during this challenging time. Call me or drop in for a chat at school.

Tutoring Assistance - Education Assistance Scheme is available for families to access tutoring for students who have posted into a new school. You can access tutoring up to 18 months from when you move to a new school due to a posting. Ring the Defence Family Helpline 1800 624 608, visit DMFS website or collect the forms from me. For more information go to the link below:

DMFS recently had WELCOME PACKS full of information about Townsville to give away at their office. Due to cancellation of the “Welcome to Townsville Expo”, I have managed to secure a couple of packs. If you are interested in one of these packs, please let me know and I will send them home with your child. These are good value and full of everything about Townsville and surrounds.

Geckos Family Centre at Lavarack Barracks is a tri-service facility providing services, support and activities to enhance family resilience in the North Queensland Defence Community. Geckos offers a range of formal and informal activities catering to Defence members, partners and families such as playgroups, parent groups, Mums and Bubs, boot camps, yoga, and sewing group. Check out their Facebook page to keep up to date with the activities and events held throughout the year or phone them on 07 4411 7031 for more details.

TO BE UP TO DATE WITH WHATS ON IN TOWNSVILLE CHECK whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au, follow on Facebook or call 07 4411 7031.

DON’T FORGET to Register for DMFS mailing list NOW at MemberandFamilyHelpline@defence.gov.au or follow on Facebook for updates.

The DMFS Townsville office would like to welcome their newest staff members to the team:

Education Liaison Officer-Jessica Stark
Family Liaison Officer (part-time) – Kim Lazarevic
Defence Social Worker – Jacqui Belsak
Defence Social Worker – Mary Pearson
Military Support Officer (Army) – MAJ David Long; &
Military Support Officer (RAAF) – SQNLDR Lisa Power

They’ll be out and about soon enough, so if you haven’t met them already, they’re looking forward to meeting you soon!

DATES TO REMEMBER

OPERATION CONNECT AND REFLECT - 4 WEEK PROGRAM from TUESDAY 1ST MARCH

Take some time to connect and reflect! Operation Connect and Reflect is a four week program where we will explore various art modalities, meditation, mindfulness and reflect on how these strategies can be used as part of a self-care routine.

There will be the opportunity to connect with fellow Defence partners in a relaxed and friendly environment. No artistic experience necessary! Light refreshments will be provided. Covid-19 safe practices will be in place.

Where: DMFS Townsville Office, 340 Ross River Rd, Aitkenvale
When: Tuesday 1st March and weekly thereafter until 22nd March
Time: 5.30pm-7.30pm
Register: Watch this space – Eventbrite ticket registration details will be sent out in an e-Newsflash in the coming weeks.

IMPORTANT

Defence Family Helpline 24/7 - 1800 624 608 - Need Help give them a call

Open Arms support former and current serving ADF personnel and their family members can use the service also call 1800 011 046 www.openarms.gov.au

Mates4Mates – Townsville FRC 4771 9600 townsville@mates4mates.org

Café now Open from 9am-12.30pm every day, you are welcome to attend for a chat and to have a look around.

DFA (Defence Families of Australia) – NQ Delegate Larissa Ostermann 0418 796 561 nth.qld@dfa.org.au

DSNG Defence Special Needs Group - 1800 037 674 www.dsng.org.au

Geckos Family Centre Nth Qld Lavarack Barracks - Contact for enquiries on 07 4446 1238 or follow on Facebook.

Geckos Family Centre Nth Qld Lavarack Barracks - Contact for enquiries on 07 4446 1238 or follow on Facebook.

Kookaburra Kids Charity Organisation Mental Health Service - 1300 566 525 www.kookaburrakids.org.au

Defence Holidays NQ at Lavarack Barracks (opp the Gym) - 07 4725 3842 admin@defenceholidaysnq.com.au

The Oasis Townsville for Ex-ADF Community in Townsville hello@theoasistownsville.org.au

Dirty Books Café – 1 Staging Camp Avenue, Oonoonba – 07 4759 8777

My hours are Monday to Friday 8:00am-3:30pm. Please phone me anytime for a chat on 4799 1333 ext 323, or email me cwhee36@eq.edu.au . I look forward to meeting you.

Remember, staying positive about school assists with developing RESILIENCE SKILLS AND FRIENDSHIPS.

Correna Wheeler
Defence School Mentor

SMILE AND THE WORLD WILL SMILE BACK AT YOU!

Community Events & Notices